A national conference for microbroadcasting culminated tonight with the
kickoff of a new community station, Free Radio Mount Pleasant (95.7). Over
200 people gathered at a Mount Pleasant community center to witness the
birth of a new station and listen to several hours of poetry and music.
The "Broadcast Cabaret" attracted numerous neighborhood residents and
participants from the day-long micropower radio conference.

The conference, which included workshops, discussions, and networking,
drew over 80 people from around the U.S. Many of the attendees run
micropower radio stations or have had their stations shut down by the FCC.
Workshops focussed on the how-tos of starting a station, including
technical specifications, legal concerns, and station organization.

Tomorrow is the much anticipated "Showdown at the FCC," where
microbroadcasters will march on the FCC and the NAB and transmit
microradio into the halls of power and money.

Free the Airwaves!

--
Chuck0
http://flag.blackened.net/chuck0/home/index.html

___________________________________________

DC Microradio Conference Update 10-5-98

Just a quick update, until longer posts can be written and photos posted
to the web.

Today's activities at the National Microbroadcasting conference were
quite successful. The media event at the Freedom Forum was interesting and
somewhat confrontational at times. Jesse can post more about panelists (I
don't have the info in front of me), but I should say that he should be
commended for doing an excellent job in arranging the event. Haven't seen
any mainstream media coverage of the Forum event, yet.

The march on the FCC and NAB got on its way at 11:30 am from Dupont
Circle. The march of over 150 included a huge corporate pyramid which
controlled a smaller NAB "gorilla" which in turn controlled Kennardio, a
puppet whose nose grew with every lie about microbroadcasting. The march
also included the "FCC nerd herd" who wore official FCC triangulation
backbacks.

Our stop at the FCC included a live broadcast on 97.5 FM which dared the
FCC enforcers to come out and confiscate our transmitter.

We proceeded to the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) who
represent the interests of those who truly control the airwaves. Our NAB
stop was rather raucous and culminated in the downing of the NAB flag and
the hoisting of a pirate flag. The NAB didn't take to kindly to that, so
they had a cop NAB a 16-year-old women protestor. Another male protestor
was arrested for announcing HER arrest. The cops told out marshalls that
they would release their hostages if we returned the NAB flag, which had
disappeared. It couldn't be found, so the NAB said they would release the
people if we got off their sidewalk. We complied and disbanded the happy
protestors at Dupont Circle.

The male protestor was bailed out of jail and the woman was released
from a juvenile facility without being charged.

As we left the NAB, we told them that we would be back. We also told
them that WE were the real broadcasters.

--
Chuck0
http://flag.blackened.net/chuck0/home/index.html